Thread by @NorbertElekes

Decomposition time of our garbage

paper towel: 3 weeks
paper bag: 4 weeks
newspaper: 6 weeks

plastic bag: 20 years
styrofoam cup: 50 years
plastic straw: 200 years
plastic bottle: 450 years
coffee pod: 500 years

Sharing is caring. #WorldOceansDay

Countries polluting our oceans the most

12. USA
11. Brazil
10. Bangladesh
9. Nigeria
8. Malaysia
7. Thailand
6. Egypt
5. Sri Lanka
4. Vietnam
3. Philippines
2. Indonesia
1. China

(WSJ) #china #ocean

There are only two problems with plastics

1. they are designed to throw away
2. but made to last forever

Worst combination ever. #pollution

If current trends continue:
By 2050, the world's oceans will contain

895 million tons of fish,
937 million tons of plastic.

(EMF) #ocean #animals

Global plastic production to date

1950: 2 million tons
Today: >9 billion tons*
2050: 37 billion tons

*79% is sitting in landfills/the environment

(AAAS) #nature #ocean

Countries polluting our oceans the most

11. S Africa
12. India
13. Algeria
14. Turkey
15. Pakistan
16. Brazil*
17. Burma
18. Morocco
(18. coastal EU countries combined)
19. N Korea
20. USA*

*correction, according to the original study

(ScienceMag) #india #southafrica

Largest exporters of plastic waste

UK 345,111 tons (only last year)
France 445,354 tons
Belgium 458,332 tons

Germany 773,314 tons
USA 894,437 tons
Japan 1,020,688 tons

The weight of the Empire State Building is 365,000 tons. Now imagine that amount.

(UN)

How many plastic bags do Americans use?
- 1 plastic bag per capita per day.

How about Denmark?
- 4 plastic bags per capita per YEAR.

(NatGeo) #eu #waronplastic

Annual plastic production: 449 million tons
End up as waste: 332 million tons

Recycling rates:

USA 9%
China 25%
Europe 30% (highest worldwide)

(ScienceMag) #environment #waronplastic

Over-packaging is a real problem.

In Japan, you can buy a single strawberry or apple wrapped in 3-5 pieces of plastic.

(photo: Robin Lewis) #japan

Annual plastic bag usage per person

Japan: 450 bags
USA: 365 bags
Canada: 200 bags

UK: 25 bags
Germany: 24 bags
Ireland: 14 bags
Denmark: 4 bags

(NatGeo) #shopping #environment

Ireland’s annual plastic bag consumption

1999: 328 bags per capita
2002: government regulation
2016: 12 bags per capita

Leading by example.

(EP) #ireland #environment

UK’s annual plastic bag consumption

2014: 140 bags per capita
2015: government regulation
2018: 25 bags per capita

All governments need to act. Period.

(Guardian) #UK #WarOnPlastic

Easy ways to reduce plastic waste

plastic cup → glass cup
plastic bag → cotton bag
plastic razor → metal razor
plastic straw → paper straw
plastic cutlery → steel cutlery
plastic bottle → reusable bottle
plastic clothing → organic clothing

What are your tips? ♻️

Most common types of ocean trash

10. foam food containers
9. plastic lids
8. plastic food containers
7. straws
6. other plastic bags
5. plastic shopping bags
4. plastic bottle caps
3. plastic bottles
2. food wrappers
1. cigarette butts

(OC, based on 21M items) #environment

Germany’s annual plastic bag usage

2012: 76 bags per capita
2016: government regulation
2018: 14 bags per capita

If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.

(GVM) #germany #environment

Weirdest trash found on beaches

Ireland: tractor tire
Bermuda: six-seater golf cart
Italy: car battery
Venezuela: satellite dish
USA: clown wig
Brunei: washing machine
Canada: sled
Finland: full-size car

(Intl Coastal Cleanup) #environment

Supermarkets by plastic reduction efforts

1. Aldi
2. Kroger
3. Albertsons Companies
4. Trader Joe’s
5. Sprouts Farmers Market
6. Walmart
7. Hy-Vee
8. Target
9. Costco
10. Wegmans
11. Whole Foods
12. Save Mart
13. Ahold Delhaize

(Greenpeace) #retail #environment